Airbag arrangement for motor vehicles

• US 5,971,431 A
• Filed: 03/16/1999
• Issued: 10/26/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 10/10/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Volkswagen AG
• Original Assignee: Volkswagen AG
• Inventors: Wohllebe, Thomas, Sinnhuber, Ruprecht
• Primary Examiner(s): Rice, Kenneth R.
• Application Number:
  US09/270,019
• Time in Patent Office: 224 Days
• Field of Search: 280/782.3, 280/730.1, 280/729, 280/732
• US Class Current: 280/732
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23169 specially adapted for knee protection
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/206 in the lower part of dashboards, e.g. for protecting the knees
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/2155 with complex motion of the cover; Retraction under the lining during opening

Abstract

A motor vehicle airbag arrangement has an airbag stored behind a cover disposed in the region of the dashboard panel. When the airbag, which can be inflated by a gas generator, is triggered, the cover moves to form an opening so that the airbag can unfold into a position which protects a seat occupant'"'"'s upper body. Unfolding of the airbag is controlled as a function of the position in which the occupant is sitting by using the cover as a shield for the unfolding airbag which can deflect part of the airbag into a position which provides additional protection for a further body region of the occupant. The size of the opening formed by moving the cover depends on the position in which the occupant is sitting at the time.

Claims

1. An airbag arrangement for a motor vehicle comprising:

an airbag stored behind an interior trim part of a motor vehicle and inflatable by a gas generator;

a cover for the stored airbag adjacent to the interior trim part, the cover being movable upon an airbag release to expose an opening for deployment of the airbag into a protective position for a portion of an occupant'"'"'s body; and

sensor means for detecting an accident situation as well as a seat occupancy condition and supplying signals to control the size of the opening for deployment of the airbag in an accident situation.

2. An airbag arrangement according to claim 1 wherein the cover constitutes a shield for the deploying airbag so that a portion of the airbag is directed into an additional position providing protection for another portion of the occupant'"'"'s body.

3. An airbag arrangement according to claim 1 wherein the size of the opening is determined by a seat occupant'"'"'s position.

4. An airbag arrangement according to claim 1 wherein the interior trim part is an instrument panel.

5. An airbag arrangement according to claim 2 wherein the additional position is at the level of the knees of the occupant.

6. An airbag arrangement according to claim 1 wherein the size of the opening is controlled in a stepwise manner.

7. An airbag arrangement according to claim 1 wherein the cover is swingably mounted behind an instrument panel for motion about an axis extending transverse to the longitudinal direction of the vehicle.

8. An airbag arrangement according to claim 1 wherein the inside of the cover has a guide element for the airbag.

9. An airbag arrangement according to claim 1 wherein the cover cooperates with a stop which is fixable in any of several vertical positions which are determined by a seat occupant'"'"'s position.

10. An airbag arrangement according to claim 2 wherein the additional protective position of the airbag is behind a knee pad located on an instrument panel.

11. An airbag arrangement according to claim 1 wherein the airbag has accordion-pleated folds and is arranged so that the flow of gas emerging from the gas generator enters directly into the folds.

12. An airbag arrangement according to claim 5 wherein the cover constitutes an impact element supported at least indirectly from the vehicle frame by at least one energy-absorbing element.